Planning a Healthy Pregnancy

Healthy moms tend to have healthy babies. Take these steps before you get pregnant. These steps can help your baby get off to a good start.

Talk to your health care provider

Let him or her know you are planning to get pregnant. Follow advice.

Have a complete medical exam

This includes a gynecological exam. (That’s an exam of the female organs.) Some medical problems may cause harm to you and your baby. They are:

• High blood pressure
• Heart diseases
• Diabetes
• Bleeding
• German measles (rubella), and some other viruses such as CMV.
• Rh disease (after the first pregnancy). This is not a problem if you get Rhogam. Rhogam keeps Rh disease from harming your next baby.
• Obesity
• STIs (sexually transmitted infections)
• HIV

Keep your lifestyle healthy

• Follow a balanced diet:
  • Whole grains
  • Green leafy and other vegetables and fruits
  • Protein foods (e.g., lean meats, poultry, beans, lentils, seafood, and eggs)
  • Calcium-rich foods (low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese; items that have calcium added to them like some juices and breads)
• Go easy on high-fat and junk foods, added sugars, and salt.
• Begin or continue on with an exercise schedule.
• Don’t drink alcohol or use street drugs.
• Don’t smoke. If you smoke now, stop smoking. Ask your health care provider for help.
• Before you get pregnant, have less than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. During pregnancy, avoid or limit caffeine to 200 milligrams a day or follow your doctor’s advice.